These masks were used by doctor's during the years of the plague or "black death" and the reason for the "beaks" is that they believed that sicknesses spread by smell. In the "beaks" they stored spices so the doctors wouldn't get sick.

>be the year of our Lord, 1313
>guarding the gate for our kingship and collecting taxes on all outlanders
>see maiden of sun gold hair approach over the yonder horizon with her father
>she arrives at my gate and unveils her face to call out that her father wishes to enter
>he beats her for addressing a man without consent and then claims he will give me his daughter in marriage if i will let him in now and in a fort night
>"a...at once good sir"
>he says i will get his 11 year old daughters hand when he returns in a fort night with his wears sold
>that night i went out to the monastery for a few pints of grog and meed while we play with minor rats
>somehow contract evil spirits upon me during the eve and fall ill
>remain so and in a delirious state well into the afore promised fort night
>on the day of the fair maidens arrival the captain of the guard says he has brought a yonder apothecary to cure me of my evil spirits
>when the healer approached with his mask, in my dazed state he appeared to be of the devils ranks
>in a panic i took fast to fleeing the room and went out clear over the wall and into the festering moat
>as i rise to the surface i catch with my eye the father of my soon to be bride
>he yells that he thinks me mad and that his daughter be better kept in saner company
>Forsoooooth!